Russia now has an ‘inspector satellite’ that could chase down or destroy other orbiting spacecraft

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According to Earth’s dedicated team of satellite observers — astronomers that spend their nights watching orbiting satellites through telescopes and reporting on their movements — Russia is developing a satellite that can chase down other satellites. Obviously, such an ability could be used for the forces of good, such as repairing or refueling other spacecraft — but the rest of the world is worried that Russia might be looking to disable other satellites, or to get close enough that it can take photos of classified designs or eavesdrop on communications.

Back in December 2013, Russia launched a trio of Rodnik military communications satellites, and a fourth unknown object, on board a Rokot/Briz-KM rocket. At the time, Russia didn’t acknowledge the presence of the fourth object — known only as Kosmos 2499 — but for obvious reasons launches are very closely watched by foreign governments and civilian satellite observers. The US military originally thought it was just a piece of debris, but one independent observer — Robert Christy — had seen this “debris” fire its engines to carry out some maneuvers. Eventually, in May 2014 Russia told the United Nations that there had actually been four satellites on board the rocket — though it still declined to say what that fourth satellite was actually doing.

This is a map of the density of communications satellites around Earth. Lots of satellites that could be eavesdropped on…

According to Christy, Kosmos 2499 has spent the last year maneuvering closer and closer to the Briz-KM upper rocket stage, which has been hanging out in low Earth orbit since it delivered the four satellites. With a series of very controlled engine burns — both spacecraft have an orbital velocity of around 17,000 mph — Kosmos 2499 is now just a few meters from the upper stage. In short, it appears to be an inspector satellite — a satellite designed for the sole purpose of sneaking up on other satellites.

Kosmos 2499 is most likely a proof of concept for a future Russian satellite that actually does something — such as taking photos of military satellites that belong to other countries, refueling its own satellites… or something far more nefarious, such as blowing other satellites out of the sky. The problem with doing anything malicious, of course, is that everyone with a telescope can see exactly what’s going on — so it’s unlikely that Russia would actually do anything untoward. Just like missile launches, nuclear tests, and large military exercises in the Persian Gulf, inspector satellites are all about showing the world that you can do something, not that you’ll actually do it. (Not to mention, there international treaties in place that are meant to prevent the weaponization of space.)

Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-132) attached to the Harmony module of the ISS

It’s also worth pointing out that the US has had similar technology for years. Way back in 1990, the NRO’s highly classified Prowler spacecraft was launched from Space Shuttle Atlantis to study Russian geosynchronous satellites. More recently, the US Air Force launched an ANGELS satellite on in July 2014 that uses “sophisticated artificial intelligence” to closely maneuver around other orbiting spacecraft. China, too, seems to be trialing similar technology with its Shijan 15 satellite, which has been in orbit since last summer.

So, there you have it: Most of the world’s major space agencies now have the ability to launch satellites that can, at velocities of around 5 miles per second, autonomously maneuver itself close to another hypersonic satellite. Short of all-out war, no one is likely to exercise its ability to blow up each other’s satellites — but when that war does come, the first nation to knock out all the other communication and reconnaissance satellites will obviously have a rather large advantage.

Tagged In

The US has at least 3 ways to destroy satellites, which we know of (and probably some we don’t). We have the XM-37, killer satellites and ground to space missiles. So us complaining about Russia is ridiculous.

eonvee375

YES WE RUSSIANS DO HAVE A DOZEN KILLER SATELLITES;
its called “spacejunk”…

Addict00tech

I am very proud of my country Jamaica, we keep outer space super clean.

Gustavo López Agüero

and also it doesn’t smell like skunk….good.

Zunalter

It’s currently in vogue to start that New Cold War rhetoric. Though I don’t particularly relish the idea of our secret military satellites being spied on by foreign governments, this tech has enough legitimate applications to make me not concerned with Russia owning it.

sorry meant X-37, mini-shuttle. It could easily be used to grab or destroy things in orbit.

Guest

And it could also be destroyed in orbit by a satellite orbiting in the opposite direction slamming into it head on….Or better yet a satellite with a small nuclear warhead that could vaporize it in orbit. Do not think of a moment that it’s invincible.

sferrin

What the hell is an “XM-37”? I’m familiar with the “X-37” but not an “XM-37”. (Small detail, the X-37 isn’t an ASAT.) And what “killer satellites” does the US have?

dc

moron

Rhan Tegoth

The XM-37 could be taken out by a head-on collision with an enemy satellite orbiting in the opposite direction. Russia has had this technology for decades and they’re bringing it back.

Great!! maybe they can use the satellite to clean up the space junk they have in orbit.

massau

how can this be cost effective for destroying purposes. a satellite is small (limited amount of fuel and deltaV) and changing inclination and orbit height costs a lot of fuel. so its not really a good idea to use.

Mo Friedrich

Too much Kerbal Space Program, dude :D

Guest

It’s an excellent idea, actually. A missile expends a lot of fuel to get up into space. A satellite is already there and already has plenty of momentum because it is traveling at orbital velocity and can use its raw kinetic energy to destroy other spacecraft. Moreover, the smaller its size, the less fuel is needed to change it’s altitude and orbital inclination. Particularly when it comes to dropping to a lower altitude. The space shuttle used most of its fuel just to get into orbit.

sferrin

Oh God. “Hypersonic”? Really? Was the author that desperate for a buzzword? Everything in orbit is going multiples of “hypersonic”. Actually, “hypersonic” doesn’t even apply because sound doesn’t travel in a vacuum. Ah well.